Relief Fund for Branded Saloon
Donation protected
Friends, Family, & Outlaws of Branded Saloon,
It is with immense pride and gratitude that we invite you to join us in celebrating 10 years of Branded Saloon! For a decade Branded Saloon has been a vibrant fixture of Brooklyn's Prospect Heights community; proudly serving New York City's LGBTQIA, after-work professionals, artists from all walks of life, and visitors from around the world.
As we approach this exciting & monumental May milestone, we sit here facing monumental challenges just to keep the doors open during this pandemic as we strive to safely serve the community we love. It is with a heavy heart and a big slice of humble pie that we must ask you for your help today. With your support Branded will not just make it to 10, but more importantly thrive until 30!
We are determined to not allow the COVID-19 outbreak to change our presence---neither during this crisis nor after. Our employees are the bedrock and strength of Branded. It is because of the dedication of our staff of eight that Branded Saloon has been the welcoming, diverse environment you have known. Even in view of this, we have had no choice but to reduce our staff and their hours.
Our remaining employees have given their all to provide very limited takeout & delivery service. With reduced staff and hours, we have been cautiously optimistic as to our long-term viability. Nevertheless, the sad truth is that our business remaining open—even post-pandemic—is uncertain. This is compounded by the hard truth that even before Covid-19, Branded had its back up against an increasingly insurmountable wall of back rent and tax penalties. We were already operating day-to-day, hanging on by a thread but with luck, loyal patrons like you, and RuPaul herself on Friday nights we were making great strides on payment plans to our landlord and the IRS. Fast forward to March and 99% of our business is closed and we are sharing 30% of what we do make with GrubHub & Seamless to keep afloat.
With limited commitment of government assistance at this point, post-COVID safety /distancing plans, rent continuing to build, insurance premiums still due, city fines, agency fees, sidewalk cafe license, music licensing fees, payroll challenges —— the list goes on and on —— and other issues common to most of our peer businesses, it’s painful to say that we have nowhere to turn at this point.
We now turn to you in this hour of need. To not only continue to pay our employees, but also to allow us to continue to operate in a safe post-pandemic business environment, while assuring our obligations and regulatory requirements are met due to this crisis.
Contributions are all greatly appreciated and will be used in the following manner:
a) Fund our staff, many of whom rely heavily on this work for daily survival and that of their families. We are working to ensure their safety and ability to return to work post pandemic
b) Purchase needed PPE (personal protective equipment) for our staff to use now and in the future.
c) Purchase bulk products for employees and customers such as hand sanitizer and wipes, masks and gloves for delivery drivers that arrive without them.
d) Ongoing maintenance issues, girl.. there is always somethin ’ that needs fixin ’ ! Ice machines, refrigerator compressors, hvac (thats the A/C!) plumbing stuff, electrical thangs. It never ends but we gotta stay on top of it all and keep smiling in the process!
e) Limit in anyway possible, the long term debt this pandemic is causing Branded Saloon
We are all, no doubt, navigating uncharted territory. But know, that each and every dollar will be more appreciated than can be expressed, as we help our staff get on their feet, resume pre-COVID staffing, and avoid complete closure of our business in our beloved Prospect Heights. Anything helps - including sharing this campaign regardless of your monetary contribution. We thank you for reading this, your comradery, and contributions during this trying time. We can assure you, that if and when we re-open, our community will emerge stronger and more inclusive than ever.
Thank you for kindness & unwavering support,
Your Family at Branded Saloon
It is with immense pride and gratitude that we invite you to join us in celebrating 10 years of Branded Saloon! For a decade Branded Saloon has been a vibrant fixture of Brooklyn's Prospect Heights community; proudly serving New York City's LGBTQIA, after-work professionals, artists from all walks of life, and visitors from around the world.
As we approach this exciting & monumental May milestone, we sit here facing monumental challenges just to keep the doors open during this pandemic as we strive to safely serve the community we love. It is with a heavy heart and a big slice of humble pie that we must ask you for your help today. With your support Branded will not just make it to 10, but more importantly thrive until 30!
We are determined to not allow the COVID-19 outbreak to change our presence---neither during this crisis nor after. Our employees are the bedrock and strength of Branded. It is because of the dedication of our staff of eight that Branded Saloon has been the welcoming, diverse environment you have known. Even in view of this, we have had no choice but to reduce our staff and their hours.
Our remaining employees have given their all to provide very limited takeout & delivery service. With reduced staff and hours, we have been cautiously optimistic as to our long-term viability. Nevertheless, the sad truth is that our business remaining open—even post-pandemic—is uncertain. This is compounded by the hard truth that even before Covid-19, Branded had its back up against an increasingly insurmountable wall of back rent and tax penalties. We were already operating day-to-day, hanging on by a thread but with luck, loyal patrons like you, and RuPaul herself on Friday nights we were making great strides on payment plans to our landlord and the IRS. Fast forward to March and 99% of our business is closed and we are sharing 30% of what we do make with GrubHub & Seamless to keep afloat.
With limited commitment of government assistance at this point, post-COVID safety /distancing plans, rent continuing to build, insurance premiums still due, city fines, agency fees, sidewalk cafe license, music licensing fees, payroll challenges —— the list goes on and on —— and other issues common to most of our peer businesses, it’s painful to say that we have nowhere to turn at this point.
We now turn to you in this hour of need. To not only continue to pay our employees, but also to allow us to continue to operate in a safe post-pandemic business environment, while assuring our obligations and regulatory requirements are met due to this crisis.
Contributions are all greatly appreciated and will be used in the following manner:
a) Fund our staff, many of whom rely heavily on this work for daily survival and that of their families. We are working to ensure their safety and ability to return to work post pandemic
b) Purchase needed PPE (personal protective equipment) for our staff to use now and in the future.
c) Purchase bulk products for employees and customers such as hand sanitizer and wipes, masks and gloves for delivery drivers that arrive without them.
d) Ongoing maintenance issues, girl.. there is always somethin ’ that needs fixin ’ ! Ice machines, refrigerator compressors, hvac (thats the A/C!) plumbing stuff, electrical thangs. It never ends but we gotta stay on top of it all and keep smiling in the process!
e) Limit in anyway possible, the long term debt this pandemic is causing Branded Saloon
We are all, no doubt, navigating uncharted territory. But know, that each and every dollar will be more appreciated than can be expressed, as we help our staff get on their feet, resume pre-COVID staffing, and avoid complete closure of our business in our beloved Prospect Heights. Anything helps - including sharing this campaign regardless of your monetary contribution. We thank you for reading this, your comradery, and contributions during this trying time. We can assure you, that if and when we re-open, our community will emerge stronger and more inclusive than ever.
Thank you for kindness & unwavering support,
Your Family at Branded Saloon
Organizer
Branded Saloon
Organizer
Brooklyn, NY